An Olympic Odyssey 2

Stu writes:-

"This May, as it is Olympics year again I decided to revisit a ride I lead back in 2012, the year of the London Olympics. The 2016 ride would also take the form of a car assist from Atcham near Shrewsbury down to the birth place of the modern Olympics Much Wenlock.

For those who don’t know how the games came about, the tale begins with the birth of William Penny Brookes in 1809 the son of a doctor in Much Wenlock, Shropshire. After leaving home to study medicine in London and Paris and botany in Italy (for the use of plants in medicine) he returned home on news of his father’s death from typhoid in 1831 to take over his medical practice. Having had a good education himself he believed education should be available to everyone regardless of class or wealth and in 1841 he founded The Wenlock Agricultural Reading Society (WARS). He also believed the same of physical education and nine years later in 1850 set up an Olympian class for the physical wellbeing of the local workers. In October of that year he held his first Olympian games, the games soon grew in popularity and drew competitors from as far away as Liverpool and London.  In 1858 he made contact with a group in Athens called the Olympic games revival headed by an Albanian born Greek Evangellis Zappas, Brookes sent £10 to be awarded as prize money, the winner of this was Petros Velissariou who later became the first honorary member of the Wenlock Olympian Class. In 1860 the first stone was laid for the Wenlock railway to attract  even more people to the games, Brookes was also instrumental  in getting the railway to come to Wenlock, the same year after some disagreement or other, the Olympian Class split from WARS to become The Wenlock Olympian Society. 1861 saw the railway open for the start of the games. In 1865 Brookes set up the National Olympian Association based in Liverpool.  The following year 1866 the first Olympian Games were held at Crystal Palace in London, W.G.Grace, who later became probably crickets’ most famous name, won the hurdles event. This same year the Amateur Athletics Association was set up to rival Brookes’ National Olympian Association.

Meanwhile the Olympic Games revival movement in Greece had failed due to political and financial turmoil (sounds familiar?) In 1889 Brookes invited Frenchman Baron Pierre De Coubertin, a man who had similar dreams of reviving the Olympics, to Much Wenlock to see his games. In 1890 De Coubertin did come to see the games and stayed with Brookes at his home in Wenlock. After the games a dinner was held at the Raven Hotel with De Coubertin as guest of honour. The hotel still has photos of the two men and of the games on display, and also copies of correspondence between the two courtesy of the Wenlock Olympian Society. De Coubertin went on to form the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and held the first modern summer games in Athens in 1896, unfortunately Brookes did not attend as he had passed away four months previously.  I wonder what Brookes would make of today’s modern games that now encompasses the Paralympics and winter games and all the hype that surrounds them?  Incidentally the mascot for the London games was called Wenlock in honour of the town, and the mascot for the Paralympics was Mandeville after Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire. 

The above is just a brief account, more details and also information about the Wenlock games which still take place every July can be found by contacting the Wenlock Olympian Society at www.wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk 

Also of interest might be the Tom Sabin bike ride from Coventry to Much Wenlock and back, a two day 186 mile round trip. This takes place every June. See http://www.transport-museum.com/modules/events/event.aspx?id=102  Tom Sabin was a farmer from Allesey, Coventry who was a very successful racing cyclist riding penny farthings, winning many races all over the country in the 1870’s. He won gold medals at the Wenlock Olympics in 1876, 1877 and 1878.

Anyway, history lesson over and back to the ride, due to the date clashing with the ladies weekend away in Leominster only two intrepid riders, Martin and myself, departed from the pond to our riverside car park at Atcham in glorious sunshine.  After an uneventful drive we set off across the Severn and cycled south towards our morning coffee stop in Ironbridge passing through Wroxeter with its Roman city and recreated Roman villa, also the first vineyard of the day. 

After several more delightful villages, quiet lanes and several steep hills with magnificent views over the Severn Valley we passed the old now redundant Ironbridge powerstation and arrived in the high street to find our planned cafe surrounded by roadworks so we couldn’t sit outside in the sun, a quick executive decision later found us sat outside another cafe a few doors up the road right opposite Mr Telfords famous bridge its self.  

Suitably refreshed it was then down to Coalport and the bridge we would use to cross back over the river again, on crossing the river we then had the longest steepest hill of the day so right on cue my chain decided to jam between two of my front chain rings just as I shifted down in anticipation of what was to come!  

Chain sorted and several hills later we arrived in Much Wenlock without any further drama. The aforementioned Raven was our lunch stop in 2012 but has since gone very up market and I thought  £19.95 for a two course Sunday lunch and four quid a pint a bit steep even for the Chester section!! So I had booked us into the Talbot instead, and very pleasant it was too at half the price. We also managed to avoid the only significant rain of the day whilst inside having lunch which was a nice little bonus.

The plan for after lunch was for a loop down towards Bridgnorth following Wenlock Edge and back again through Broseley for afternoon tea, but Martin didn’t fancy this extra loop as it would have involved another fifteen miles or so of hills on what was already quite a hilly route, so we had an explore around Much Wenlock before heading back up the western bank of the Severn to our car at Atcham.  After visiting the Guildhall (well worth having a look around ) we found Brookes’ home in Wilmore Street, his family graves in the church yard right opposite and we also visited the Linden Field otherwise known as the Gaskell Recreation Ground where the Wenlock Games have taken place ever since they began in 1850. There is a memorial to Brookes here and at the far end of the field are several trees planted over the years by people such as De Coubertin, Juan Antonio Samaranch and Princess Anne amongst others.

The route back involved lots more quiet lanes, quaint villages, another vineyard, Oh and did I mention one or two more hills!!"

The Thatch at Faddiley

Chester Cathedral

Four met at the Town Hall.  It was promising to be  a lovely day, and was already so warm I had to take my jacket off.  Only last week I had been hailed on (twice) at the Treasure Hunt in Trefnant, and a week later it was 'cracking the flags' as Harry says.  So I do not know where everyone else was?!

Meeting at the end of the Greenway

Undeterred, and happy with a small number, we set off North to pick up the Greenway, at the end of which we met Sara (I did remember she had messaged the group to meet us there....!).

Spring flowers on a 'dead end' lane

Mouldsworth Viaduct

We continued towards Manley, but turning towards Ashton we then swung round to Mouldsworth, and down a dead end lane - I have often wondered if there was a way through or not.  I had looked on google street map, I am sure, but saw no way, so I was interested and then fabulously surprised at the delightful track that we came to.  I did not even see the viaduct at first.  The ladies were not as pleased - terrified almost ("I'd be OK on my mountain bike"); but I reassured them and set off to join Bob and Ray in the dip under the tall arches.  So pretty, and very rideable.  After posing for a few photos, we continued, crossing the Ashton Brook and after a very short climb we were on the road to Delamere.  

Through to Kelsall, and on to our coffee stop at Rose Farm.  A short coffee stop as it was already nearly 12!

After this we were promised a downhill and flat ride to Faddiley.  We had a little more ascent before dropping to cross the A49, skirting Oulton Park and arriving at Bunbury via the locks.  From here it was a short hop to Faddily - and even though we re-traced the lane I took back on my ride - it felt so different coming the other way and so much greener and more springlike!

I love the green this time of year - it is new green, fresh and bright.  The hedges have exploded, there does not seem to have been a gradual noticing of small buds on the sunny side of the lanes, it has happened all at once.  The Cow Parsley is not out - but you can see the plants and small flower buds, so nearly ready to adorn the lanes with the wonderful white froth.

Faddily is a tiny hamlet on the A534 (Wrexham - Nantwich road), which has an old Inn, The Thatch, associated with Peckforton Castle.  We sat in the garden, it was such a lovely day, and had a very pleasant lunch time.

Our return journey consisted of a few miles of main road, to get us back to the lanes.  Sometimes it is unavoidable, and the road was quite quiet (as it was a Sunday).  It was also quite gently downhill - which could be identified as I picked up speed and was able to pass everyone and take up position at the front, whistling along at 20mph or so.  I note on the map we actually cross a very young River Weaver, which accounts for the downhill.

varied colours in the trees on Bickerton Hill

Gateway and large oak at Peckforton

Beeston

At Bulkely we turned back into the lanes, and enjoyed the variety of greens on Bulkely and Peckforton Hills.  Back now on familiar turf, we passed Beeston, Huxley and just caught the 50p shop and Christine's cafe before they closed.  Cake of enormous proportions.  And, sadly, before she closes for  good - she is selling up and will be giving up hospitality in a few weeks.  I am glad I was able to see her again, thank her for the years serving us and wish her well with her chickens and quiet home plans.

Last cake at Christine's

Passing the horseshoe pile

A very jolly, sunny and interesting 50 miles, many thanks to Bob.

The Shroppie Fly at Audlem

The clocks went back last weekend; and so a week later we are reaping the benefits of British Summer Time.  I had planned today's route, and at 63 miles a little further than usual, especially for early April.

 13 of us met at Chester Town Hall.  A helpful passer by offered to take our group picture (I was just about to ask when he offered) - he took his time, and ended up right low on the floor (probably not my best angle!) so I will show both of them just because of the effort he went to!

We set off through town and followed the canal out to Christleton, and into the lanes.  I tried to keep a steady but slightly faster pace that I may normally plod at, holding a fairly steady 13 mph, but this dropped as we hit the hills just after Tattenhall (Harthill specifically!).  From here we had a down hill and gentle undulations to pass Cholmondely Castle. I had tried to negotiate using the tea rooms at Chomondely, but the estate manager insisted we would have to pay an entrance fee (£6, reduced by a pound on normal entry).  This is such a shame, as now they have lost out on 13 teas/ coffees, and the chance that people may come back and visit.

So we went to the very friendly and helpful Cholmondely Arms, just a little further on.  Teas, coffees, hot chocolates and a cappuccino revived us a little but five decided to head back (plans for the afternoon).

So, I phoned The Shroppie Fly and booked a table for six, although the landlord was not convinced we needed to and that we were mad riding to Audlem in this weather (what was actually a rather pleasant spring day!); and we set off.

It was a bit of an adventure -  I plot my route at home on the computer; and then follow my little blue line on the GPS.  I should really ride a route in advance but I'm afraid I do not have time for that.  Hence two of the roads were labelled 'closed' on our way - one was not closed at all

but gave us a nice traffic free road from Pinsley Green to near Wrenbury station; the other was the final drop to Audlem on the A525.  Imagine our glee when a motorbike (which had beeped at us as it passed) and a car had to reverse back out and turn around - we just dismounted to cross the bridge (as pedestrians!).  

Lunch was pleasant (if not a little confusing - I had poppadum and naam bread with my Chilli con carne...?!)  and as we finished Tony and friends headed off to get back earlier as he had a rehearsal at Theatr Clwyd.








So that left Bob, Dave and myself.  Heading out of Audlem on the A529 (the correct direction and not towards Market Drayton) we picked up a little lane/ track introduced to the club by Stu a few years ago.  It saves a long detour to Nantwich to cross the River Weaver, and is a delightful and quiet lane through two farms.  The only person we saw was a chap who appeared concerned for our welfare - 

Him "this isn't a cycleway you know"
Me "yes, but it is a lovely cut through and it is a right of way"
Him "But it is a private road"
Me "but it is a public right of way?"
Him "It is dangerous"
Me "Why?"
Him "because of farm traffic"
Me "oh well, thank you we will be careful"

Suffice to say we saw nothing and no-one else.  

Then we met some geese in the lane, lovely to see but they had a good hiss at us!














By this time Dave also had to leave us to get to work, so he left us at Sound, and we continued to Ravensmoor; I then found a little lane Bob had not been down before.  I was feeling weary so I ditched the route over Peckforton, as candle workshops would be closed by now anyway, and we headed round Beeston instead.

West Kirby

Ray posts: "Whilst assembling for Bob's ride out to West Kirby a religious parade from Abbey Square went by. Norman brought along his new carbon bike - which was was very nice indeed & no doubt more comfortable than the donkey would have been !! - and off we set. I was a bit under par so abandoned at Landican, but cheers nevertheless to "me oul' segotia" "

And shared some photos on facebook (stolen by me to populate the blog!)

The Tea Cosy Cafe at Lady Heyes, Frodsham

Ian's turn to lead a wintry ride.

Ray again took photos and posted "Ian's ride, a bit hilly in places & I'm unfit, but despite the cold an enjoyable day again, at least it was by evening time looking back! Seriously though, all thanks to Ian for his time trouble and effort."

In the sunshine at the Pond - inc. Ray!

In the sunshine at the Pond -
Ray a former shadow of himself...

I joined the group at lunchtime, so missed morning coffee at Rose Farm in Utkinton.

I came out along the Cheshire Cycleway to Manley and up the hill to Manley common.  As I topped over the Sandstone Ridge and caught sight of the other side, I noted a lot of snow on the hills near Manchester and the Peaks (a long way away!)

Lunch was a very breakfasty affair, and very nice despite Tony's dismay that there was no beer available!  

After lunch we had a little climb back over the sandstone ridge (I had mislaid my camera so no pics from me - happily I have since found it!).  It was a very cold day, and we had lots of little ups and downs as we wended our way over to Walk Mill for afternoon coffee and cakes (by popular vote).

Caroline found an extra topping for my caramel slice,
as it was Mothers Day!

Dave writes:

Nine of us meet up at the pond for Ian's ride to Lady Hayes. After the usual pre ride photo's (and some of the Ducks and a Comorant) we departed. Ian set a leisurely pace out through Waverton past the Crocky Trail, but we were all disappointed to hear that the book shop at the lunch venue had closed. We passed Duddon Common heading for Rose Farm for our morning stop.


When we parked up the donkeys took a keen interest in our bikes! After coffee Graham and Jane said their farewells as they departed for home, and we continued a short distance before Martin also headed home as we turned right up Quarry Bank before turning to head towards Kelsall.  At Forest Farm Road Lesley was the next rider to turn for home [I passed her at Manley, so had all the climbing to do! - Sue]. We passed Eddisbury Fruit Farm along the track into the forest then on to Hatchmere; down Pytcheleys Hollow past the Tigers Head into Norley before turning left onto Marsh Lane; and on into Crowton.  At Lady Hayes Sue joined us for lunch and the afternoon (see above!). After lunch we turned right out of Lady Hayes to climb Dobers Lane and on up to Newton;

Ian just checking the route.

going on to Manley Common then Barrow where the the lane through Hollowmore had more potholes than the track in Delamere forest! 

Tony - 'still no beer?!'

We then went through Tarvin and onto Walk Mill for our afternoon tea stop. As we headed back to the pond riders started to depart in various directions for home.

Thanks to Ian for a great route.